Yuma Art Center

The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains the Yuma Art Center, which features the 643 seats Historic Yuma Theatre.

About the Yuma Art Center

Our vision is for all members of our community to live creative lives by being a part of the arts in Yuma.

The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department manages the Yuma Art Center in Historic Downtown Yuma. The Yuma Art Center advances the arts by providing distinct opportunities for community participation and artistic growth. With over 100,000 visitors each year, the Yuma Art Center annually produces two full length theatre productions, over twenty visual art exhibitions, holds nearly fifty unique performing and visual arts classes, facilitates the annual summer mural program, screens dozens of films, supports the North End Artists Cooperative, coordinates festivals and special events, and advances public art throughout Yuma. Advocacy is strengthened through the City of Yuma Parks, Arts and Culture Commission as well as the Ad-Hoc Public Art Committee.

Yuma Art Center's signature events include:

YumaCon: October 7, 2017 at the Yuma Civic CenterTribute of the Muses: October 14, 2017 in the Yuma Art Center and Historic Yuma TheatreChildren's Festival of the Arts: November 4, 2017 on Historic Main StreetNorth End Art Walk: November 17, 2017 on Historic Main StreetArt in the Park: January 13, 2018 in Gateway ParkDinner Theatre Production: February 14-17, 2018 in the Yuma Art CenterDancing with the Yuma Stars: March 10, 2018 in the Yuma Art Center and Historic Yuma TheatreARTbeat 11: April 21, 2018 on Historic Main Street

Yuma Art Center features:

The 643 seat Historic Yuma Theatre which dates to 1912

The restored United Building featuring the North End Artists Cooperative

Four Visual Art Galleries

Multipurpose Classrooms and Artist Studios

Pottery Studio

Artisan Gift Shop

Black and White Photography Darkroom

Host your event at the Yuma Art Center

The Yuma Art Center is a great place to get creative and is a unique place to host your special event! Check out our rental information and Arty Party packages below.

Join us Friday, December 15 at 6pm to 8pm for the opening of 3 new exhibits. Reception is free to attend and open to the public. The evening will include light hor 'dourves, live music and a cash bar.

The West Gallery features work by the late Louis Benesch, who specialized in classic southwest-style paintings and prints.The Benesch Collection is on display thanks to a special arrangement with the Foundation of Yuma Regional Medical Center, which has works by Benesch on sale and on display throughout Yuma with a portion of their proceeds of art sales directly benefiting cancer care within Yuma County.

Sowing Stars,works by Michael Barkley

The north and south galleries feature works by Yuma’s own Michael Barkley in his first solo gallery exhibition entitled Sowing Stars. Barkley has taken to various live edge planks with pen and ink to create both abstract and realistic compositions utilizing the natural patterns and textures of each unique wood grain.

Sunniest Place on Earth All Media Juried Exhibition

Featured in the central gallery will be The Sunniest Place on Earth, an art show juried by Phoenix-based art collector Ben Wood. The show features 100 works by artists from across the United States and Mexico. The selected works represent all media and were chosen from a competitive application process. The show also will present $2,000 in cash prizes and the prestigious Best in Show award.

Description: Art in the Park is a fine arts festival inspired by the infamous “Sunday in the Park on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat. This one day event takes place along the meandering Colorado River in Downtown Yuma’s Gateway Park. As they chat with artists and select their favorite works, art patrons are invited to sip a mimosa and stroll along the river.

Application Deadline: Ongoing. First review date is January 5, 2018.

Installation Timeline: March to June, 2018

Eligiblity: All national and international artists who are 18 years of age or older are eliglbe to apply.

Description: The City of Yuma’s Ad Hoc Public Art Committee is seeking to purchase multiple sculptures for a permanent sculpture walk at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex (PAAC). This new facility is a state-of-the-art softball complex with six fields and is used for local, regional, and national softball tournaments. Since opening on September 1st, 2017 the complex has had over 50,000 visitors.

Description: ARTbeat is an award winning juried fine arts festival that fills Historic Downtown Yuma with art. Celebrating its 11th year, this festival is named for our favorite news beat and is annually attended by thousands of visitors. Cash prizes and awards totaling over $1,500 are presented by the Yuma Art Center.

Prospective Gallery Artists: The Yuma Art Center proudly presents works by local to international artists in all media. Exhibitions are selected, coordinated and curated by the Division of Arts and Culture. For consideration, please send your contact information, artist statement about the work you propose to exhibit, artistic resume, and four high resolution images of your work (Jpegs preferred) to Arts@YumaAz.gov with the subject line “Prospective Artist.” Please note that exhibitions are coordinated many months and often years in advance. Both emerging and professional artists are encouraged to submit proposals.

Prospective Gift Shop Artists: For inquiries about presenting artwork in the gift shop please contact the Yuma Art Center at 928-373-5202 or Arts@YumaAz.gov. Prior to presentation artists are met with and work is reviewed by appointment only. No walk-ins please. Please note that all artwork must be display ready (wired/framed/etc.) before consideration.